The [Logitech MX Master 3S](product:Logitech MX Master 3S) is the better buy for most desk setups because it delivers stronger scroll control, a better long-session shape, and a quieter click feel. The Logitech M720 wins only if this mouse lives in a bag, serves a second computer, or needs the simplest possible battery routine. For a primary office mouse, the MX Master 3S takes the lead.
Written by our desk-peripherals editors, who compare multi-device mice by hand fit, scroll control, switching behavior, and upkeep friction.
Quick Verdict
Winner: Logitech MX Master 3S
The common use case is a primary desk mouse, and that is the MX Master 3S job. The M720 is the better support mouse, but support is not the same as daily-driver performance.
| Decision parameter | Logitech M720 | Logitech MX Master 3S | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary role | Secondary or travel mouse | Main desk mouse | MX Master 3S |
| Hand support | Compact, simpler support | More sculpted palm support | MX Master 3S |
| Scroll control | Basic productivity scrolling | Richer scroll system with thumb control | MX Master 3S |
| Battery routine | Replaceable battery | Rechargeable battery | M720 |
| Shared office noise | Standard click feel | Quieter clicks | MX Master 3S |
| Desk mobility | Easier to move, store, and replace | More desk-first | M720 |
- Buy the MX Master 3S for a main workstation, spreadsheet-heavy work, and long document sessions.
- Buy the M720 for travel, a second computer, or a shared desk where simple upkeep matters more than premium controls.
- Do not pay for MX Master 3S features if you will not use the thumb wheel and quieter click system every day.
Our Take
Pick the M720 if…
The Logitech M720 fits a laptop bag, a guest desk, or a secondary machine that needs to stay simple. We recommend it when the mouse sees mixed use, because a replaceable battery and lighter feature load reduce downtime.
The trade-off is plain. The hand feel is less refined, and the control set stops at basic productivity. That is a good compromise for a support mouse, not a strong one for an all-day primary device.
Pick the MX Master 3S if…
The [Logitech MX Master 3S](product:Logitech MX Master 3S) belongs on a primary desk, especially for spreadsheet work, long document sessions, and repeated app switching. We recommend it when comfort and control save time every day, not when the mouse spends half its life packed away.
The trade-off is a more complex ownership loop. Charging and extra software behavior enter the routine, and that matters if you want a mouse you never think about.
Specs Side by Side
Exact measurements are not the point of this comparison. The purchase hinges on shape, power model, and control layout, so those are the spec areas that matter.
| Spec area | Logitech M720 | Logitech MX Master 3S | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | Replaceable battery | Rechargeable battery | M720 avoids charging downtime, MX Master 3S adds a charging routine. |
| Scroll system | Standard productivity wheel | Richer scroll system with thumb control | MX Master 3S handles dense work and horizontal movement better. |
| Device switching | Simple multi-device use | More polished multi-computer workflow | Both work across devices, but the MX feels more complete on a desk. |
| Noise profile | Standard click feel | Quiet click design | MX Master 3S fits shared spaces better. |
| Shape | Compact right-handed shell | Larger sculpted right-handed shell | M720 moves easily, MX Master 3S supports long sessions better. |
| Best role | Support mouse, travel mouse | Primary productivity mouse | This is the clearest split between the two. |
The MX Master 3S wins the comparison that matters for a daily desk. The M720 wins the comparison that matters for convenience. That split drives almost every real-world decision.
Comfort and Hand Fit
The MX Master 3S fills the hand more completely, and that matters on long seated days. A mouse that supports the palm reduces the little grip corrections that add up over hours, especially when a chair armrest sits low or the desk height forces the wrist to hover.
The M720 feels more compact and disappears faster in motion. That is an advantage for shorter sessions, smaller hands, and anyone who moves between home, office, and travel without wanting a large mouse in the bag. The drawback is simple, it gives up some of the planted feel that makes the MX Master 3S stronger for all-day work.
At a standing desk, this difference gets sharper. Less forearm support means the mouse itself carries more of the comfort load, and the MX Master 3S handles that job better.
Controls and Workflow
The MX Master 3S is the better productivity tool because it adds control density, not just more buttons. The thumb wheel and quieter primary clicks matter in spreadsheets, browser-heavy research, timeline work, and any session that moves horizontally as much as vertically.
The M720 covers the basics without forcing extra setup. That is exactly why it works well for email, documents, and a second laptop that does not need a full control map. Most guides treat more controls as automatically better, and that is wrong. Unused controls become dead plastic, and dead plastic adds bulk without reducing effort.
We recommend the MX Master 3S for users who map buttons and scroll behavior into daily habits. We recommend the M720 for users who want the mouse to stay out of the way. The trade-off is that the M720 stops feeling rewarding once your workflow becomes dense.
Battery and Connectivity
The M720 has the cleaner ownership model. Replace the battery, keep working, and avoid a charging routine. That matters in a shared office, a guest room, or a setup that changes computers often, because the recovery path is obvious.
The MX Master 3S uses rechargeable power, which keeps the desk cleaner but adds a charging habit. That is not a flaw. It is a different maintenance model, and it works best when the mouse stays near one workstation and a charging cable never becomes a surprise problem. At a standing desk, cable routing becomes part of the purchase, even when the mouse itself feels better in the hand.
Both mice solve multi-device use, but they do it with different levels of friction. The M720 is easier to keep alive when it moves between machines. The MX Master 3S is easier to live with when it stays planted in one place.
What Most Buyers Miss
Most guides frame the MX Master 3S as the automatic choice. That is wrong because it assumes the mouse lives one life at one desk. The better question is whether the mouse is a primary tool or a utility tool.
The M720 is the more realistic fleet mouse. It fits guest desks, secondary laptops, and household setups where several people touch the same hardware. That also explains why used M720 units show up so often in office liquidations and refurb channels. The upside is availability, the downside is that worn buttons and polished grip surfaces show up quickly on heavily used examples.
The MX Master 3S asks for more commitment, but it gives more back when that commitment exists. If the mouse is one person’s daily tool, the premium controls earn their place. If the mouse is just there to keep a machine usable, the M720 is the cleaner choice.
Long-Term Ownership
Over time, the MX Master 3S becomes part of the workstation routine. The charging habit stays visible, the button map matters more, and the mouse works best when it keeps the same profile across systems. That is a strong fit for a permanent desk and a weak fit for a mouse that moves every few days.
The M720 ages as a simple utility item. Battery replacement is straightforward, pairing is less of an event, and the mouse is easier to hand off or relocate. That simplicity matters more after the first few months, when convenience stops being theoretical and starts becoming the part of the setup you notice every week.
The hidden long-term difference is not durability alone, it is attention. The MX Master 3S asks for more attention but returns more performance. The M720 asks for less attention and preserves calm.
Durability and Failure Points
The first things to wear on the M720 are the touchpoints, wheel feel, side buttons, and grip surfaces. On a used unit, those are the parts we inspect first because they tell you how hard the mouse lived. The basic shell is not the problem, the accumulated feel is.
The MX Master 3S fails differently. Its battery routine becomes the main maintenance item, and the quiet-click design removes some of the tactile feedback people use to confirm inputs. That is not a defect, it is the cost of a quieter office mouse. The mouse also feels less forgiving if you move between computers without keeping your software and settings consistent.
A dead rechargeable mouse stops work until you plug it in. A dead replaceable-battery mouse stops work until you swap the battery. That is the cleanest failure split in this comparison.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
Skip the M720 if this is your main mouse for long hours of document work, spreadsheet editing, or timeline-heavy app use. The control set is too limited to justify daily desk duty when the MX Master 3S exists.
Skip the MX Master 3S if you want a mouse that disappears into a laptop bag, if you change work locations every day, or if charging habits annoy you more than extra controls help you. It is also the wrong shape for shoppers who want a compact secondary mouse.
Left-handed shoppers should look elsewhere from both models. Both are right-handed designs, and that matters more than any feature list.
What You Get for the Money
The M720 gives stronger value when the job is practical: a backup computer, a home office spare, or a shared desk mouse that needs simple switching and low-maintenance power. It does not try to justify itself with a long feature list. It just works as a useful tool.
The MX Master 3S gives stronger value when the mouse is part of the work process itself. If the thumb wheel, scroll feel, quieter clicks, and sculpted body reduce repeated motions every day, the premium is doing real labor. If those features stay unused, the value drops fast.
Value here is workload-specific, not universal. The cheaper mouse is not always the smarter buy, and the premium mouse is not always the better purchase. The winner is the one that matches the way the desk is actually used.
The Straight Answer
The MX Master 3S is the better mouse, and the M720 is the better utility purchase. Most comparison articles stop at that first sentence and never explain why the cheaper option still matters. That misses the real ownership question.
A mouse that is easier to keep in use beats a mouse that is richer on paper. The M720 proves that in shared, travel, and backup roles. The MX Master 3S proves the opposite on a primary desk, where the extra controls and better shape repay their cost every day.
The Better Buy
Buy the [Logitech MX Master 3S](product:Logitech MX Master 3S) if this is your main mouse for office work, spreadsheets, or long desk sessions. Buy the Logitech M720 if you need a travel mouse, a second-computer mouse, or a low-maintenance backup.
For the most common shopper, the MX Master 3S is the right call. The M720 is the smarter specialist buy, not the better overall one.
FAQ
Which mouse is better for spreadsheets and horizontal scrolling?
The MX Master 3S. Its stronger scroll system and thumb control make wide sheets, timelines, and side-to-side navigation easier than the M720.
Is the M720 better for travel?
Yes. The M720 is the better bag mouse because it is simpler to carry, simpler to replace, and simpler to keep running without a charging routine.
Which one is quieter in a shared office?
The MX Master 3S. Its quieter click design fits shared workspaces better and reduces the sound profile of repeated clicking.
Does the M720 make sense as a primary office mouse?
Yes, but only for basic office work and low-maintenance setups. If you spend long hours at one desk, the MX Master 3S is the better primary mouse.
Which one is easier to live with long term?
The M720 is easier to maintain, while the MX Master 3S is easier to use well. Pick the M720 for simpler ownership, and pick the MX Master 3S for better daily ergonomics.
Should we buy the MX Master 3S if we only use email and documents?
No. The M720 covers that workload with less complexity. The MX Master 3S makes sense when the extra controls and comfort get used every day.
Are both mice good for a standing desk?
The MX Master 3S fits a standing desk better because it gives the hand more support during long sessions. The M720 works, but it gives up some comfort margin.